Jammu and Kashmir is holding its first parliamentary elections after the abrogation of Article 370, and people are enthusiastic about it. Long queues have formed outside polling stations since morning. In the third and final phase of the assembly elections on Tuesday, the turnout was 68.72%, higher than the figure for the Lok Sabha elections. Turnout in seven regions, including Sobol and Baramulla, was the highest of any election in the past three decades. According to the Election Commission, 63.45% of voting took place in three phases.
According to the Election Commission, the turnout rate in the three phases was 63.45%. Officials said voting was conducted peacefully in all areas, including special polling stations near the international border and the Line of Control. There were no reports of any untoward incident anywhere.
The 3-year historical record was broken
Even in the first and second phases of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the turnout exceeded that of the Lok Sabha elections. In the first phase, the turnout in seven districts was 61.38%, while the turnout in the Lok Sabha elections was 60%. Similarly, in the second phase, the turnout rate in the six districts was 57.31%, which was much higher than the 52.17% in the Lok Sabha elections. However, compared with the 2014 Assembly elections, in the third phase, the seven districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba and the seven districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir District turnout declined. Compared with 2014, most seats fell by 1% to 15%. In Sopore, Baramulla and Patan, the ratio has increased this time.
Sopore was once considered a stronghold of terrorism and separatism. The turnout was 41.44%, much higher than the 30.79% in 2014. Meanwhile, in Baramulla, where voting is considered slow, 47.95 per cent voting was conducted. The turnout in 2014 was 39.73%, while the turnout in Patan was 60.87%, higher than the 58.72% in the previous election.
According to the Election Commission, an estimated 68.72% of more than 39.18 million eligible voters exercised their right to vote in the third phase. However, this number is reported as an “estimated trend” because it does not include mail-in ballots and data has not yet been collected from some polling stations.
Counting of votes will take place on October 8
The third phase of voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm on 40 seats in 7 constituencies amid tight security. At this stage, the fate of 415 candidates has been decided in the EVM, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig and many former ministers and MLAs . Counting will take place on October 8.
Samba district recorded the highest voter turnout of 73.45%, while Udhampur recorded 72.91%, Kathua 70.53%, Jammu 66.79% and Bandipora 64.85% , Kupwara (Kupwara) 62.76%, Baramulla (Baramulla) 55.73%. Chhamb constituency in Jammu district recorded the highest voter turnout of 77.35%.
Parliamentary elections are special in many ways
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are special in many ways. For the first time since the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, refugees from West Pakistan, members of the Valmiki Samaj and the Gorkha community voted in the assembly elections. These communities also participated in the Block Development Committee and District Development Committee elections held in 2019 and 2020.
The electoral commission said the role of money and power in parliamentary elections was also significantly restricted this time around. With the coordinated efforts of various law enforcement agencies, a total of Rs 1.3 billion was seized during the elections, which is the largest amount so far in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir. The commission said drugs worth Rs 110.45 crore were also included in the recovery. During the Lok Sabha elections, the figure was over Rs 100.94 crore.
